Moonshine Vesper Review

Time to buckle up, Buttercup. Today we’re going to forgo talking about small fish on tiny flies. For this Moonshine Vesper Review we’re talking about the big guys. I’m talking Salmon, Striper, Muskie, and various saltwater behemoths.

Many anglers may not even realize that these larger fish are being caught on a fly rod, but let me tell you this – while I certainly appreciate the skill and finesse it takes to fool a wild trout with a perfectly hatch-matched dry fly, there’s just something about having a fish on the line that has enough power to pull you in the water.

Moonshine Vesper Features

5. Alignment dots

6. Light wire single foot guides

7. FLOR grade cork

Moonshine Vesper Models

5 wt 9′

7 wt 10′

12 wt 9′

Moonshine Vesper Review – Our take

The Vesper features a high modulus, nano matrix carbon fiber rod with a solid titanium frame SiC stripping guides, and light wire single foot guides. So I tested this fly rod on King Salmon and Striper and found the strength of this rod very surprising given how lightweight it is.

This is the result of using carbon fiber which provides a very high amount of strength while minimizing the weight when compared to other materials.

When targeting these monsters, the two biggest success factors are 1. Fly fishing Rod strength, and 2. Casting distance.

Moonshine Vesper Review – Rod Strength

When hooking a fish the size of a small child, there’s a lot of power being thrown around. For these we need a rod that can handle the bursts of energy, acrobatic jumps, and freight-train runs.

If you’re fishing on saltwater flats and open water with very little structure to get in the way, you’ve got the luxury of being able to play that fish for a long time to wear it out. But what about catching 40 pound King Salmon in a small river about the size of your driveway? What about pulling in a Striper or Muskie in a river laden with downed trees?

This is where the Vesper shines. The strength of the flyrod will allow you to fight harder to turn that fish away from a log. It will give you the freedom to horse it in before that fish can wrap you up like he’s done 100 times before on other fishermen.

Moonshine Vesper Review – Casting Distance

While the 3-6 weight Vespers are moderate-fast action fly fishing rods, all of the 7-12 weight models are fast action. When hunting these “fish of a thousand casts”, we’re usually throwing larger streamer patterns, and sometimes heavier sing tip line. And while trout fishing sometimes involves hamburger flipping flies over a hole from 10 feet away, you’re not going to be able to get that close to the big ones.

Being able to cast all that weight over a long distance is crucial – especially when those big fish won’t give you a second chance at another cast. This is where the Vesper’s well-balanced design comes into play. The lightweight design means fewer ounces to cast and the way the rod loads the weight ensures max distance to reach a fish without spooking it. 

Moonshine Vesper Review – Looks 

So we’ve established that the Vesper is a lightweight, yet beefy rod that can man-handle large fish, but let’s talk about style. The Vesper uses high grade AAAA cork, and has the option of either Tobacco Tiger or salt-ready aluminum reel seats. The blanks also feature an anti-glare finish with midnight bindings, metallic copper accents and alignment dots. This rod looks GOOD.

Value

Lastly, let’s talk about dollars and sense. While some people seem to have endless money to throw at high priced fly fishing rods, not all of us have that luxury. Moonshine rods occupy a price zone in a comfortable middle range for those who can’t spend over $1000 for a rod, but definitely want something of higher quality and not bottom-of-the-barrel.

Moonshine Vesper Pros and Cons

Cons

! Hard to decide which model to buy

Overall Ranking

8.25 / 10

Moonshine Vesper Deals

Accessories: Reel and Fly Line

Airflo Superflo Ridge 2.0 Power Taper Fly Line

Moonshine Vesper Starter Pack

If you’ve decided to pick up the Moonshine Vesper, or found another fly rod that suits your needs, there are some bare essentials you’re going to need to get read yot hit the water. Check out some of our suggestions below:

• • Reel – You’ll need a reel that complements the rod. For this we suggest the Moonshine Creede Reel.
  • Fly Line – For fly line we suggest Airflow Superflo Ridge 2.0 Taper Fly Line .
  • Waders and Boots – If you plan on wading into a stream, we suggest Simms Freestone Waders and Korkers Wading Boots.
  • Wading Pack – We also recommend a good wading pack like the Simms Freestone Chest Bag to carry your flies, hemostats, tippet, and other accessories
  • Flies – Fill your fly box with the newest and most popular flies from Orvis

Moonshine Vesper Accessories

RIO Products Fluoroflex Strong Fluorocarbon Tippet 3 Pack 30 Meters